I've tried to figure out a way to write this that doesn't sound as negative as I feel at the moment, but I don't think it's possible. Chan and I met at VOA today for a casual launch of the same sort we've done many times in the past. Not sure how many flights Chan made, but I got one in before security arrived and told us that what we were doing was illegal. VOA is no more as far as rocketry is concerned.
Could be worse, I guess. I still have B6-4 Field, but a lot of what I've built is D and E powered. Not sure where I'll be able to fly them at this point.

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I'd look up that violation number and find out exactly what the ordinance says that you were supposedly breaking. If it's some new ordinance, find out who on the city or county council voted for it, then vote them out of office the next election cycle. If it's an old ordinance, it may not really pertain to what you were doing and the Ranger may have been twisting stuff to his benefit.

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Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
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WOOSH NAR Section #558

It's an Ohio field and I live in Kentucky, but I suspect that Chan might be checking into it. He didn't seem too eager to give up on such a prime flying field.
I think they might have been more pissed about the snowbank we drove around which was supposedly there to close that part of the park down. There was no sign or anything. I just thought that was the way they plowed it.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I apologize in advance for asking a possibly silly question, but does VOA stand for "Voice Of America" (the U.S. Government's international broadcasting organization [see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_Of_America ])? In other words, is (or was) that field their antenna array field? If so, I think they could help you *and* would be willing to do so, for the following reasons:

VOA has suffered from budget cuts for many years; since the end of the Cold War they have been struggling to justify their continued existence, and they have been working to re-define their mission. Model rocket launches (including contests) in their antenna array field (even if it is a formerly-used one of theirs) would be just the kind of "feel-good," human interest stories that they would like to broadcast to their overseas listeners and cover on their web site. You could approach their management and discuss how both parties could help each other.

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NAR #54895 SR

Definately FIGHT THIS.

I have been victim in the past of similar bogus harrasment, and we lost the fight once ( wish I knew what I knew now ) .

other time an officer shut us down for flying on a school athletic field, with a PAID TEACHER present, as an official SCHOOL ACTIVITY.
and the teacher closed up instead of fighting with him - seems a bus driver from a visiting school calleld the cops about us flying there. instead of minding thier own business.

we did of course fly there for many more years, until his retirement ( the teachers, not the officers :P ) . and I have flown there a few times up to a couple years back .


keep the torches lit !

~ AL

It is an old VOA facility, but it was turned over to the city and county sometime in the last ten years. According to Chan, they're interested in turning a large chunk of it into a nature preserve. Several years ago I was walking out in the veggies to recover a rocket and I almost stepped on a guy who was camo'd up and stalking a bird. He got up and stomped off, cussing at me as he went. He had to have been there a long time because we'd be flying for hours and never saw him come in. Apparently that's the kind of people they want in the park. Chan had some pretty interesting stories about his attempt to get them to let us host another NARAM there, but I'll leave that to him to tell if he wants.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

I'd have asked him what kind of bird he was stalking. After he replied I'd have said something like, "Oh ya, them's good eatin'!"

__________________
Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

Well, I don't have a smart mouth like you.
Actually, I was so shocked when he stood up, I didn't say much. I must have been shocked because I really hate it when people walk away muttering curse words at me. I'd normally have had a thing or two to say about that, but I think my mouth had come unhinged.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Well, Bill, you could always tag along with Chan next time he comes over to Indiana for a Launch Crue sport launch (or contest for that matter). Our field is large enough to fly up to I and J motors and we usually have a waver in place for most sport and contest launches. Our next sport launch is this coming Sunday (14th) and we have a regional contest the last weekend of the month. We'd love to have you come out and fly with us!

Greg

I seem to remember that nice field in Indiana having a not-so-friendly neighbor who puts a completely different spin on the phrase "shooting rockets".